Position Summary

Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) is seeking an experienced, strategic, and operationally focused executive to serve as its President & Chief Operating Officer. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & COO is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, operational performance, financial stewardship, regulatory compliance, and safety culture of the organization.

The President & COO provides executive leadership across all functional areas of the company, ensuring safe, efficient, and customer-focused railroad operations while maintaining strong relationships with Conrail’s owners, Norfolk Southern and CSX, customers, regulators, labor organizations, and other key stakeholders.

The successful candidate will possess a demonstrated record of leadership in transportation, logistics, rail, or other complex industrial operations and will be committed to fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Essential Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

· Provide overall leadership and management of the corporation.

· Develop and execute strategic initiatives approved by the Board of Directors.

· Strategically lead a high-performing executive leadership team.

· Promote a culture centered on safety, ethics, accountability, operational excellence, and employee engagement.

· Establish organizational goals, priorities, and performance expectations.

Operations

· Ensure safe, reliable, and efficient railroad operations across the Conrail system.

· Oversee Transportation, Engineering, Mechanical, Signal, Dispatching, Customer Service, Environmental, and other operating functions.

· Drive continuous improvement in service performance, asset utilization, productivity, and cost management.

Financial & Business Leadership

· Develop annual operating and capital budgets.

· Ensure prudent and responsible allocation of corporate resources.

· Monitor financial performance and implement initiatives to improve efficiency and long-term sustainability.

· Evaluate capital improvement opportunities.

Governance & Compliance

· Ensure compliance with all applicable Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Surface Transportation Board (STB),

environmental, and other regulatory requirements.

· Foster a strong corporate governance and internal control environment.

· Maintain effective enterprise risk management practices.

· Report regularly to the Board of Directors regarding operational performance, financial results, strategic initiatives, and  key risks.

Labor & Employee Relations

· Promote positive labor-management relationships.

· Ensure compliance with employment laws and collective bargaining agreements.

· Champion workforce development, succession planning, and leadership development.

Public Relations

· Serve as the primary executive representative of the corporation.

· Maintain productive relationships with Norfolk Southern, CSX, customers, government agencies, elected officials,  industry associations, and community partners.

· Represent Conrail in industry and public forums.

Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

· Minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible leadership experience.

· Significant experience leading complex transportation, logistics, railroad, manufacturing, or infrastructure organizations.

· Demonstrated success managing large operating budgets and diverse workforces.

· Strong understanding of safety management systems and regulatory compliance.

· Experience working with or reporting to a Board of Directors.

· Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

· High degree of integrity, sound judgment, and professionalism.

Preferred Experience

· Executive leadership experience within the freight railroad industry.

· Experience working with unionized workforces under the Railway Labor Act.

· Familiarity with FRA regulations, railroad operating practices, and railroad safety programs.

· Experience interacting with Class I railroads and public agencies.

· Experience leading organizations with multiple stakeholders or joint ownership structures.

Leadership Competencies

· Strategic Vision

· Safety Leaders